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. 2021 Mar 5;31(3):187-193.
doi: 10.2188/jea.JE20190260. Epub 2020 Mar 28.

Heated Tobacco Products Have Reached Younger or More Affluent People in Japan

Ayaka Igarashi  1 , Jun Aida  1 , Taro Kusama  1 , Takahiro Tabuchi  2 , Toru Tsuboya  1 , Kemmyo Sugiyama  1 , Takafumi Yamamoto  1 , Ken Osaka  1
Affiliations

Heated Tobacco Products Have Reached Younger or More Affluent People in Japan

Ayaka Igarashi et al. J Epidemiol. .

Abstract

Background: The trend of the diffusion of heated tobacco products (HTPs) is a great concern because HTPs have become available worldwide. This study examined the sociodemographic characteristics of HTPs users in Japan, where HTPs were first launched.

Methods: This cross-sectional study used data from an online survey conducted in 2017. A total of 4,926 participants, aged 20-69 years, were included. The dependent variable was the type of tobacco products used. The independent variables were age and equivalent income. Two analyses estimated the odds ratios (ORs) for 1) being smokers compared to "non-smokers," and 2) being "HTP smokers" compared to "only combustible cigarette smokers." Analyses were stratified by sex. Educational attainment and occupation were also used in the sensitivity analyses.

Results: The percentages of "non-smokers," "only combustible cigarette smokers," and "HTP smokers" were 82.8%, 14.2%, and 3.0%, respectively. When compared to the oldest participants (aged 60-69), the youngest participants (aged 20-29) tended to be "HTP smokers" (OR 7.90; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.09-20.22 for men and OR 9.28; 95% CI, 2.14-40.28 for women). Compared to participants with the lowest incomes (<2 million), those with the highest incomes (≥4 million) tended to use HTPs (OR 2.93; 95% CI, 1.56-5.49 in men and OR 1.82; 95% CI, 0.73-4.54 in women). These trends were consistent when analyses included only smokers. There were consistent results in other SES measurements, including educational attainment and occupation.

Conclusions: Younger or more affluent people tended to use HTPs, although smoking rates among these populations were generally lower. New tobacco control efforts are required.

Keywords: characteristic; electronic nicotine delivery devices; heated tobacco products; smoking; socioeconomic status.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of interest: None declared.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.. An example of a new image strategy for heated tobacco products (HTPs): A dust box used for HTP sticks in a hotel room prohibiting traditional combustible cigarette use. It displays “No smoking” and “IQOS is available” (photo by JA at a hotel in 2019).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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